Was Jorge Posada out of line?

Growing up, Pedro Martinez was one of the Red Sox players that I most disliked, particularly due to his enjoyment of hitting Yankees batters.  The most famous instance of this taking place was in Game 3 of the 2003 ALCS, when Pedro drilled the very forgettable Karim Garcia in the back with a fastball.  (Surprisingly this was not the brawl starter, instead it was a Roger Clemens fastball nowhere near Manny Ramirez that emptied the benches and led to the famous Don Zimmer incident.)  Pedro then threateningly gestured to Jorge Posada, which he now attributed to Posada insulting his mother (although I do not think this was the right time or moment to bring this up).

While Pedro, admittedly one of the greatest pitchers of all time, is somebody that I have very little respect for, this is entirely out of line of Posada.  Throwing at batters, which Pedro has admitted to, is very bush league and unsportsmanlike.  Disrespecting family, however, takes it entirely beyond the game of baseball, and that is not something I would expect from somebody like Jorge, who has dealt first-hand with the troubles of having an ill family member.

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To those who come from a poor background, family means everything, as you often hear players tell stories about how they miss their family back home, the troubles of growing up and how their family is all that they have, or the joy it brings them to be able to help their family escape poverty.  Posada, somebody well involved in helping the community, understands the role of families, and went a step too far by insulting Pedro’s mother.

Athletes, just like the rest of us, do not deal well with insults to family.  Knowing that Pedro was one of the best pitchers at the time, Posada should not have added fuel to someone who already has immense talent.  Not only could this have backfired, and led to Pedro pitching better, it also could have led to Posada, or one of his teammates, being hit, and potentially injured.

Baseball is a game, however, family is not, and Jorge was definitely out of line.

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